She should have done it years ago.She pictured in her mind the "Leap of Faith" it required to perform such a task. Was it really a task? It seemed like she would require a natural trust in nature as well as a leap to freedom. Could she do it? Remembering the times she had passed this particular spot - witnessing the activity, purpose, and uninhibited action. The laughter - and the urging on, when a newcomer faltered and in an instant changed his mind completely!She remembered watching the courageous ones, soaring and dipping in the skies. How wonderful it would be to feel the wind taking you gently along, dipping and changing direction. You could pretend you were a beautiful bird like an albatross, spoken about reverently, in the poem of The Ancient Mariner, though his end was disastrous! In her mind's eye, she could imagine the colour of the sky and the fluffy clouds. Below would be a wondrous sight - farms and valleys and the blue ocean in the distance.

What about the landing? That seemed worrisome to fathom. How do they come down so smoothly without breaking their legs? The trouble now, as she thought about it all, was the timing. The years had already slipped away so quickly. When she had really contemplated the attempt she was much younger. She should have shown some courage and done it then, when she had the ability to carry it out. There was a very brave grandmother parachuting from a plane not so long ago!

The fact had to be accepted that she was now a great-grandmother and hang-gliding off a slopey grassed area, high up on the Lamington Plateau, would now have to be just a dream. She would have to be content relaxing in her favourite chair - striving to write her memoirs, poems and stories, for her beautiful great-grandchildren.

Three things come not back - time passed, the spoken word, the neglected opportunity.